Loose-leaf holders



Aug. 3, 1966 s. KOPELOVlTZ LOOSE-LEAF HOLDERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 14, 1964 IN VEN TOR.

A TTO RNE Y g- 23, 1966 s. KOPELOVITZ 3,267,938

LOOSE-LEAF HOLDERS INVENTOR Solomon Kopelovitz BY ATTORNEY.

p snares-s Ice Patented August 23, 1966 3,267,938 LGOSE-LEAIF HGLDERS Solomon Kopelovitz, 36 Brandeis St, Tel Aviv, Israel Filed Dec. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 417,871 2 Claims. (Cl. 12918) This invention relates to holders for loose sheets of paper or the like by which the sheets are held in position, one above another, on a backing member.

In prior art arrangements, there is usually provided a piece of stifi" cardboard and one or more posts which project upwardly from the backing member and pass through aligned holes in the sheets of paper. One common kind of such holders is the loose-leaf binder which has a top cover in addition to a backing member and two posts which each pass through aligned holes in the sheets of paper or the like and which join the backing member and top cover. Most kinds of these holders suffer from the disadvantage that, when it is desired to remove a sheet other than the top one, it is first necessary to remove from the posts all the sheets above it, and then, when the desired sheet has been removed, to replace the sheets on the posts. This is most inconvenient.

The holder according to this invention holds loose sheets of paper together in a stack and yet enables selective removal or insertion of one or more sheets without disturbing other sheets. Each sheet is provided at its inside edge with one or more slots each having a narrow width or throat portion extending continuously from the edge to a portion of larger width. For convenience, the narrow width portion is referred to herein as the throat and the larger width portion as the hole.

The holder is provided with one or more posts each mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis. The

transverse cross-section of each post has a narrow width barely enabling passage of the post through the throat portion of the slot. The post has a length appreciably greater than its width, but small enough for rotation within the hole portion of the slot. When the post is passed into the hole portion of the slot and then rotated, its length is presented to the throat preventing removal of the sheets.

Thus, a sheet of paper may be manually removed from or inserted into any location in the stack by merely rotating the posts and handling the sheet as desired. No other papers and the cover need be handled.

According to the invention, any number of posts may be provided, and they may be arranged for rotation in unison. Where book-like cover members are provided, one or both of the cover members may be employed as a base member to support the posts.

It is, therefore, among the objects of the present invention to provide a loose-leaf holder of novel design enabling selective insertion and removal of one or more adjacent sheets without disturbing other sheets to be kept in place; to provide a loose-leaf holder of improved design and of easy manufacture which may be adapted for use with pre-existing types of cover members with a minimum of modification to said cover members, and to provide improved holder apparatus for sheets as well as an improved slot design for the sheets allowing versatile use of the sheets.

A feature of this invention is an improved holder mechanism which can be operated by one hand simultaneously with withdrawal of one or more sheets with the other hand.

These, as well as other objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which like parts are represented by the same numerals and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a holder according to the invention provided with cover members;

FIGURES 2 and 3 are fragmentary views of part of the holder in perspective with the line 2-2, illustrating the holder in different positions;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section through part of the holder;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a post member of the holder; and,

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a plurality of sheets 1 stacked above a backing member or back cover 2. A front cover 3 may be provided, and the covers 2 and 3 may be connected and supported by a stiff back 4 in a conventional manner enabling rotation of the cover members about fold line 4a. The holder according to the invention may be conveniently employed with this book-like arrangement by providing an opening 4b in the front cover via which the holder apparatus may 'be manipulated by means of a push rod 5 having an upstanding knob.

The holder according to the invention is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. The push rod 5 may be moved essentially back and forth in the opening 4b to serve as a conveniently accessible prime moving element for the novel holder. Opposing end portions of the rod 5 are designated by reference numerals 6 and 7.

A rotatable post unit 8 is attached to each respective portion 6 and 7 of the push rod 5. More particularly, each unit 8 is composed of the following several portions which may comprise an integral body forming the unit 8. The unit 8 has an upstanding post 9 the central portion of which is oblong in transverse cross-section. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a lever arm 10 is rigidly attached at one end to, or forms part of the casting of, the post at a right angle thereto. When the lever arm rotates, the post rotates.

At the other end of the arm 10 is provided a pin 11. Aperture means in the push rod 5 are provided for receiving the pin 11 so that the arm It is moved by movement of the push rod. Upon such movement, the pin will describe a curved path. In other words, the outer end of each of the arms 10 revolves about the axis of the post to which it is attached.

The upper portion of the post 9 may be round and the uppermost tip of the post beyond the cover 3 may be provided with a cap or head 12. The said round portion of the post juxtaposes an aperture in the cover 3 so that the post may rotate relative thereto. The cap 12 and the lever arm 10 together serve to prevent axial movement of the post 9.

The lower portion of the post 9 also has a rounded surface and is provided at its tip beyond the cover 2 with a cap or head 13 attached thereto. Both the caps 12 and 13 may, after attachment, rotate in unison with the post 9 so long as the caps are not bindingly tightened against the cover members 2 and 3.

The pin 11 located at one end of the arm 10 fits in an aperture 14 extending through the push rod 5. The pin 11 is provided with a cap 15 of greater diameter than aperture 14 so that the pin supports the rod 5 thereby. Therefore, the pin 11 at the end of each arm 10 may provide support for the push rod 5 yet allowing rotation of the pins 11 relative to the push rod 5. The cap 15 may rotate with the pin 11 so long as said cap is not bindingly tightened against the push rod 5.

All of the caps 12, 13 and 15 may be secured to their respective pins in any suitable manner. For example, if the integral unit 8 is made of plastic, the caps may be press fitted or conveniently bonded thereto. If metal is used, welding or bonding or press fitting of said caps may be employed for their attachment. Alternatively,

threaded fastenings may be used in an obvious manner for securing the caps.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the sheets 1 is provided at its inside edge portion with a slot 16 having a narrow throat portion 17 parallel to the top and bottom edges of the sheet. The throat portion 17 extends to an aperture or hole portion 18 of greater diameter than the width dimension of the throat 17.

The operation of the binder is very simple. Assuming that sheets 1 are already in place as shown in FIG. 2, said sheets may be removed easily by merely moving the push rod 5 toward the bottom of the sheets. This push rod movement causes each of the arms It to rotate about the axis of its associated post 9. Since each post 9 is constrained against translational movement from its axis, the end of the arm having pin 11 describes a circular path, thus causing a small amount of displacement of the push rod 5 toward the back 4 during movement of the push rod. However, during this movement, the knob in the push rod stays within the confines of the aperture 4b.

The rotation of lever arms 10 causes rotation of the posts 9 so that, as shown in FIG. 3, the short dimension of the cross-sectionally oblong posts is brought into register with the throat portion 17 of all of the sheets 1. The desired sheet or sheets 1 may then be removed from or inserted into the binder. The operating elements, push rod 5, arms 10, pins 11 and caps 12, 13 and 15, are each made of injection molded, high impact thermoplastic for cheapness and durability. The sheets are locked into place by reversing the above-described opera tion.

A more elaborate embodiment is shown in FIG. 6 in which there is shown a modification of a post member enabling telescopic movement of its parts to allow adjustment thereof corresponding to the thickness of the stack to be held by the binder.

More specifically, there is provided an upper post portion 21 having an arm 22, pin 23 and cap 24 coacting in the same manner as described in conjunction with FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5. The upper post portion 21 is oblong; e.g., rectangular in transverse cross-section, and has a thinwalled hollow recess 25 rectangular in transverse crosssect-ion and similarly oriented in its shape to the shape of post portion 21.

A lower post portion 26 shaped for sliding fit within the recess 25 moves axially within the recess providing telescopic movement between the post portions 21 and 26.

An axial threaded bore 27 is provided in the upper post portion 21. Bore 27 receives a threaded bolt 28 having a manually rotatable head 29 integral therewith. The bolt 28 passes freely through an axial bore 30 extending through the entire length of the lower post portion 26.

The lower end of the post portion 26 has a rounded portion 31 which passes through the cover 2. At the end of rounded portion 31 is a head 32 integral therewith and of greater diameter than said portion 31. A hole 33 may be provided in the cover 2 through which said head 32 may be passed.

The head 29 has a sleeve 34 having radial holes therein in which radial keys 35 may be placed to hold the head 32 axially in position relative to the head 29. The lower end of the post portion 26 prevents downward movement thereof.

In operation, rotation of the head 29 causes axial movement of the upper post portion 21 relative to the lower post portion 26, thereby changing the overall length of post portion 26 and 21. The upper post portion is held against rotational movement because of the attachment of the arm 22 to the push rod 5. It is seen that by this arrangement the oblong cross-section of the post portions 21 and 26 is effectively employed throughout substantially the entire distance between covers 2 and 3. The coaction of the elements of FIG. 6 is, of course, the same as those of the other figures in all other respects.

Obviously, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that equivalents of the various elements described may be employed. Any suitable materials may be em ployed for the elements. Any suitable number of posts may be used, depending upon the number of slots to be located in the sheets. It is understood that the present invention is not limited in scope to the foregoing description thereof, but is limited in scope only by the following claims.

What I claim is:

l. Loose-leaf binder cover apparatus for holding loose sheets in a stack between front and back covers, each of said sheets having a keyhole slot extending as a throat from one edge to a circular hold portion which is appreciably greater in width than said throat, said apparatus comprising: a one-piece injection molded flat strip push rod having a central raised knob portion which projects through and is slidable in an elongated opening in the front cover at an edge thereof and having apertures between the central knob portion and its ends, said rod being disposed inside said edge of the front cover, each of said covers having apertures adjacent said edge serving to mount rotatable post units; injection molded one-piece plastic rotatable post units, one for each hole of the filler sheet, each of said post units having a vertical main body portion of oblong cross section which is adapted to enter the throat and hole portion of the keyhole slot of'the filler sheet, pin portions at the upper and lower ends of the oblong body portion rotatably mounted in the apertures of said cover and a right angle lever arm portion extending from each upper pin portion and serving as the operator for said post units inside said front cover, each of said lever arm portions having a pin element near the end of its under surface engaging in the adjacent aperture of said fiat strip push rod, said lever arm portions being parallel to each other whereby the lever portion with its pin element in said aperture moves freely with its under surface in contact with the upper surface of the flat strip push rod below the front cover and said knob portion serves as the sole means which is operated from the outside of said front cover through which it projects; mounting caps disposed over the ends of said post pin portions securing said post units rotatably in the apertures in the front and back covers respectively.

2. Loose-leaf binder cover apparatus for holding loose sheets in a stack between front and back covers, each of said sheets having a keyhole slot extending as a throat from one edge to a circular hole portion which is appreciably greater in width than said throat, said apparatus comprising: a one-piece injection molded fiat strip push rod having a central raised knob portion which projects through and is slida-ble in an elongated opening in the front cover at an edge thereof and having apertures between the central knob portion and its ends, said rod being disposed inside said edge of the front cover, each of said covers having apertures adjacent said edge serving to mount rotatable post units; injection molded two-piece plastic rotatable post units, one for each hole of the filler sheet, each unit comprising first and second telescoping vertical portions with a pin at each end rotatably mounted in the apertures of said covers, said vertical portions formed in oblong section to enter the throat and hole of the keyhole slot of the filler sheet; said first portion consisting of a body portion and an upper right angle lever arm portion integral therewith serving as the operator for said post units inside said front cover, each of said upper lever arm portions having a pin element near its end on its under surface for engaging in the adjacent aperture in said flat strip push rod with both said lever 5 6 portion and push rod portion being inside the front cover References Cited by the Examiner and adjacent upper arm portions being parallel to each UN STATES PA other; said second telescoping portion being fitted with 771,381 10/1904 Miner an adjustable screw element for varying the height Of the 5 9 1 943 1 1911 ll 129 13 interfitted telescoped first and second portions; mounting caps disposed over the ends of said pins securing said FOREIGN PATENTS post units rotatably in the apertures in the front and back 8001977 9/1958 Great Britaincovers respectively at an edge thereof. JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner. 

1. LOOSE-LEAF BINDER COVER APPARATUS FOR HOLDING LOOSE SHEETS IN A STACK BETWEEN FRONT AND BACK COVERS, EACH OF SAID SHEETS HAVING A KEYHOLE SLOT EXTENDING AS A THROAT FROM ONE EDGE TO A CIRCULAR HOLD PORTION WHICH IS APPRECIABLY GREATER IN WIDTH THAN SAID THROAT, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: A ONE-PIECE INJECTION MOLDED FLAT STRIP PUSH ROD HAVING A CENTRAL RAISED KNOB PORTION WHICH PROJECTS THROUGH AND IS SLIDABLE IN AN ELONGATED OPENING IN THE FRONT COVER AT AN EDGE THEREOF AND HAVING APERTURES BETWEEN THE CENTRAL KNOB PORTION AND ITS ENDS, SAID ROD BEING DISPOSED INSIDE EDGE OF THE FRONT COVER, EACH OF SAID COVERS HAVING APERTURES ADJACENT SAID EDGE SERVING TO MOUNT ROTATABLE POST UNITS; INJECTION MOLDED ONE-PIECE PLASTIC ROTATABLE POST UNITS, ONE FOR EACH HOLE OF THE FILLER SHEET, EACH OF SAID POST UNITS HAVING A VERTICAL MAIN BODY PORTION OF OBLONG CROSS SECTION WHICH IS ADAPTED TO ENTER THE THROAT AND HOLE PORTION OF THE KEYHOLE SLOT OF THE FILLER SHEET, PIN PORTIONS AT THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS OF THE OBLONG BODY PORTION ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN THE APERTURES OF SAID COVER AND A RIGHT ANGLE LEVER ARM PORTION EXTENDING FROM EACH UPPER PIN PORTION AND SERVING AS THE OPERATOR FOR SAID POST UNITS INSIDE SAID FRONT COVER, EACH OF SAID LEVER ARM PORTIONS HAVING A PIN ELEMENT NEAR THE END OF ITS UNDER SURFACE ENGAGING IN THE ADJACENT APERTURE OF SAID FLAT STRIP PUSH ROD, SAID LEVER ARM PORTIONS BEING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER WHEREBY THE LEVER PORTION WITH ITS PIN ELEMENT IN SAID APERTURE MOVES FREELY WITH ITS UNDER SURFACE IN CONTACT WITH THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE FLAT STRIP PUSH ROD BELOW THE FRONT COVER AND SAID KNOB PORTION SERVES AS THE SOLE MEANS WHICH IS OPERATED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF SAID FRONT COVER THROUGH WHICH IT PROJECTS; MOUNTING CAPS DISPOSED OVER THE ENDS OF SAID POST PIN PORTIONS SECURING SAID POST UNITS ROTATABLY IN THE APERTURES IN THE FRONT AND BACK COVERS RESPECTIVELY. 